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This blog will mainly focus on crime in and around Southwest Missouri....Winner Of Springfield Blogger's Association: ROOKIE BLOG OF THE YEAR 2009--WINNER News or Current Events Blog Of The Year 2010
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Authorities are looking for a man they say is responsible for the death of his girlfriend who died in a train/crash in Marionville last December.According to court documents, David Ray Birch, 38, was allegedly drunk when he tried to beat the train at the O'Dell crossing on December 17, 2012. Twenty six year-old Katie Rafters-Wiggins was killed when a BNSF train slammed into the passenger side of the vehicle.

Birch, who had over twice the legal of alcohol in his blood at the time of the crash, told medical personnel that he had been drinking prior to the fatal crash, but he was "unsure of the amount before the accident."

Katie Rafters-Wiggins

Rafters-Wiggins and Birch had recently re-located to the area from Arizona at the time of the crash, according to Detective Krissa Smith.If you can help authorities locate Birch, who has an active warrant out for his arrest, you're asked to call the Aurora/Marionville police department at 417-678-5025.UPDATE 08-28-13:Birch was arrested in Yavapai County, Arizona and is awaiting extradition back to Missouri.

I heard that they were both doped up on meth & that they got into a fight & he killed her, because she threatened to leave him. He put her body in the car & drove it to the railroad tracks, so that the train would hit them & make it look like an accident.

Your story about Katie Rafters-Wiggins. I've heard the same rumor about her death several times from people that knew them very well. One of them was his roommate. I heard Katie was already dead in the car before the train even hit them. They were both doped up on Meth & got into an argument. Katie threatened to leave him & he snapped & killed her.

HOW DARE YOU HIDE BEHIND THE ANONYMITY OF THE INTERNET AND POST SUCH HURTFUL THINGS!!!! Did you ever stop for one second to think that Katie's family, including her two beautiful daughters may read this at some time? How does your comment help, anything, in any way? You are not a detective nor a witness. You are merely some random person without the guts to even use your name. So please think about your actions and hurtful they could be to people who are actually grieving over Katie's loss - EVERY SINGLE DAY

HOW DARE YOU HIDE BEHIND THE ANONYMITY OF THE INTERNET AND POST SUCH HURTFUL THINGS!!!! Did you ever stop for one second to think that Katie's family, including her two beautiful daughters may read this at some time? How does your comment help, anything, in any way? You are not a detective nor a witness. You are merely some random person without the guts to even use your name. So please think about your actions and hurtful they could be to people who are actually grieving over Katie's loss - EVERY SINGLE DAY

I know this is an old post but I still think about this accident alot and it weighs on me greatly. I'm not sure how to put this lightly but the poster above is incorrect. I don't know about drugs but the rest of what they say is false. God bless and I just hope that Katie's family has been able to recover from such a loss.

I know this is an old post but I still think about this accident alot and it weighs on me greatly. I'm not sure how to put this lightly but the poster above is incorrect. I don't know about drugs but the rest of what they say is false. God bless and I just hope that Katie's family has been able to recover from such a loss.

I know this is an old post but I still think about this accident alot and it weighs on me greatly. I'm not sure how to put this lightly but the poster above is incorrect. I don't know about drugs but the rest of what they say is false. God bless and I just hope that Katie's family has been able to recover from such a loss.